Ford CEO admits 'the customer has spoken' amid company's worst performance slip since 2008 financial crisis: 'It's a big miss'

[lariat]

Remember when Ford workers went on strike and demanded better wages and benefits. They did it at the worst time too. I have little sympathy.

Restructuring costs in the EV unit drove the largest portion of the loss for Ford. That's an easy focus now. This is isn't Ford specific, but until OEM's can increase the range, EV's will never sell as well as ICE or hybrids. A 300 mile EV is not appealing for the masses to make the switch. Sure, MSRP comes into play as well, but until they address the range issue, EV's wont move the needle anytime soon.

Simply put, there's no compelling reason to act. Charging station issues are another hot button. I've heard some horror stories.

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[AzScorpion]

Remember when Ford workers went on strike and demanded better wages and benefits. They did it at the worst time too. I have little sympathy.

Restructuring costs in the EV unit drove the largest portion of the loss for Ford. That's an easy focus now. This is isn't Ford specific, but until OEM's can increase the range, EV's will never sell as well as ICE or hybrids. A 300 mile EV is not appealing for the masses to make the switch. Sure, MSRP comes into play as well, but until they address the range issue, EV's wont move the needle anytime soon.

Simply put, there's no compelling reason to act. Charging station issues are another hot button. I've heard some horror stories.

Also, those 300 miles are under perfect conditions. They're not taking into account the heat, freezing temps and towing where those numbers will most likely be cut by 1/4 - 1/3 less. Sure ICE vehicles have the same but I can (usually) find a gas station just about everywhere and can fill up and be back on the road within 5-10 minutes. Of course if it's a place like Buck-ees then add an hour (or two) for Annie to shop.

 

[Grumpaw]

Also, those 300 miles are under perfect conditions. They're not taking into account the heat, freezing temps and towing where those numbers will most likely be cut by 1/4 - 1/3 less. Sure ICE vehicles have the same but I can (usually) find a gas station just about everywhere and can fill up and be back on the road within 5-10 minutes. Of course if it's a place like Buck-ees then add an hour (or two) for Annie to shop.

And for you to get a samitch !!!!!
300 miles under perfect conditions running empty......100 miles towing our 7000 lb travel trailer. Then charge and another 100 miles....
It would take me over two weeks to get across the US as opposed to 3 days with my IC Expedition....and that 2 weeks takes into consideration that almost no campgrounds have charging stations and do not allow you to charge from campsite pedestals...

 

[got3fords]

Good memory Joe. Look at the old ads from back then and it makes you sick at what things cost today.

Just look at the price of that Plumb Crazy Hemi ! Now at the auction it'll go for well over 6 figures.

$3000 back then is about $26,500 today.

 

[AzScorpion]

$3000 back then is about $26,500 today. So, not really a deal.

Where can you buy a reliable vehicle now for $26,500? You can't.

Plus those Plymouth's if kept original or restored are worth 6 figures now. There's no American made car now (maybe the ZR1X) that'll be worth anything remotely close to that in 30 years, especially EVs. lol

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

$3000 back then is about $26,500 today. So, not really a deal.

That $3,000 was about one or two months of household earnings. Using a similar measure today paints a much different picture. It’s likely six to eight months these days.

And don’t get me started on house prices!

 

[got3fords]

Where can you buy a reliable vehicle now for $26,500? You can't.

Plus those Plymouth's if kept original or restored are worth 6 figures now. There's no American made car now (maybe the ZR1X) that'll be worth anything remotely close to that in 30 years, especially EVs. lol

Just adding a little perspective.

 

[pbethel]

Where can you buy a reliable vehicle now for $26,500? You can't.

Plus those Plymouth's if kept original or restored are worth 6 figures now. There's no American made car now (maybe the ZR1X) that'll be worth anything remotely close to that in 30 years, especially EVs. lol

We must have lived those years in an alternate universe if you considered the illustrated vehicles to be "reliable".
My preferred rides were Chrysler products and I can attest that Plymouth/Dodge build quality was sub par but the torsion bar suspension handled way better.

 

[AzScorpion]

We must have lived those years in an alternate universe if you considered the illustrated vehicles to be "reliable".
My preferred rides were Chrysler products and I can attest that Plymouth/Dodge build quality was sub par but the torsion bar suspension handled way better.

Well, there's your problem right there. Until Lee Iacocca took over Chrysler was a hot mess!

I guess did live in an alternate universe because mine were very reliable. I never remember my parents having their vehicles in the shop or broke down. I never remember anyone I knew having transmission problems either. I'm not saying they didn't exist but out of all my family and friends I never heard of any having them rebuilt or replaced. The only thing I ever did was regular maintenance and that was so much easier to do. I've pulled carbs and starters out and had them back in within a few hours at most.

Now they might not have been the most luxurious or comfortable vehicles compared to now but they never left me stranded or in the shop being repaired.

 

[pbethel]

Well, there's your problem right there. Until Lee Iacocca took over Chrysler was a hot mess!

I guess did live in an alternate universe because mine were very reliable. I never remember my parents having their vehicles in the shop or broke down. I never remember anyone I knew having transmission problems either. I'm not saying they didn't exist but out of all my family and friends I never heard of any having them rebuilt or replaced. The only thing I ever did was regular maintenance and that was so much easier to do. I've pulled carbs and starters out and had them back in within a few hours at most.

Now they might not have been the most luxurious or comfortable vehicles compared to now but they never left me stranded or in the shop being repaired.

Chrysler Corp was before, during, (remember the K platform?), and long after Lee a "hot mess".
But your 6 figure Dodge/Plymouth all had the worst build quality of the big 3. Iacocca had nothing to do with them. Before his reign.
Never lifted a head off a Mopar that didn't have a major ring ridge by 50,000 miles nor had a AT, 904 or 727 that made it much past 75,000.
What let's us down now is the computerized everything. Mechanically current stuff lasts much longer. That and the 10 speed AT.
I hate where the industry is now but no way do I want points and carbs or, God forbid Mopar's first electronic ignition.

 

[AzScorpion]

That $3,000 was about one or two months of household earnings. Using a similar measure today paints a much different picture. It’s likely six to eight months these days.

And don’t get me started on house prices!

That's a little off on the cars back then but still better than today where it's more like 7.5 months.


In 1970 the average household income was $9,400 which is around $783.00/month. So about 4 months income back in 1970 was needed.

Today as of 2025 the median household income is $83,750 or $6,979/month

Today the average car price is $50,000 so it would take 7.5 months of income now so almost double.

The homes aren't as bad as most think.

The average home cost $23,450 back then.

Today the average home now cost $410,800

Of course this will vary from coast to coast but back then you needed about 3 times your income for a house where today you need 5 times your income. Not really a huge jump in 46 years where most of the houses increased dramatically after Covid. It it weren't for that we'd be at 4 times your income which is still not bad accounting for 46 years of inflation.

 

[AzScorpion]

Chrysler Corp was before, during, (remember the K platform?), and long after Lee a "hot mess".
But your 6 figure Dodge/Plymouth all had the worst build quality of the big 3. Iacocca had nothing to do with them. Before his reign.
Never lifted a head off a Mopar that didn't have a major ring ridge by 50,000 miles nor had a AT, 904 or 727 that made it much past 75,000.
What let's us down now is the computerized everything. Mechanically current stuff lasts much longer. That and the 10 speed AT.
I hate where the industry is now but no way do I want points and carbs or, God forbid Mopar's first electronic ignition.

That was my point that you owned yours before he took over and after they were (a little) better. I've never owned a Chrysler product except for my first car which was a '70 Challenger. I bought it as a project car and had it towed to my house at 15 and worked on it for a year and a half until I got my license. Other than that I've owned all GM vehicles up until my first F150 in 1996 and have been a Ford guy since.

Now I do agree all this computerized stuff is what's hurting us in repairs now. Sometimes it's to "smart" and when that happens it just means big to repair it. Look at the HVAC systems in our Rangers. Now it's an average of $2,500 to repair that heater box/actuator when back then IF something broke it was just a cable or a metal arm. While I like my dual climate control I could live without it and sometimes simple is better.

 

[Texasota]

Where can you buy a reliable vehicle now for $26,500? You can't.

You can get a Maverick XL for under $30,000. They are wonderful little trucks.

https://www.rochestermotorcars.com/new-Rochester-2025-Ford-Maverick-XL-3FTTW8A39SRB24161

 

[Texasota]

Axing passenger cars was a incredibly stupid move, the Fusion was a hell of a car, and a real seller. How about refreshing the Panther platform still in RWD, and offering a Crown Vic with the 5.0 coyote, Law enforcement would eat it up.....bye bye Charger.

I owned a Fusion (hybrid) and it was a great car, but Ford did not make money on them. They dropped these cars so that they could build Mavericks, Broncos and Bronco Sports which are very profitable.

 

[Texasota]

The problem for the domestic manufacturers is that they've become incapable of making a small vehicle cheaply and depend on large high-margin vehicles too much to provide an option for something else.

Not true in the case of the Maverick. Sounds like it would be a nice fit for you.

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